OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Woodruff, WI 54568

Woodruff: median income $72,589, home value $281,000, $223/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Centre Hall, PA 16828 92%698$76,468$273,800$192 6 min longer commute
Ashton, ID 83420 92%1,067$69,286$337,700$228 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Boyne City, MI 49712 91%232$74,033$294,800$318 larger
Fremont, IN 46737 89%374$74,975$199,200$240 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Bellaire, MI 49615 89%226$79,469$292,300$251 older residents
Lake City, MN 55041 89%163$78,672$275,200$221 larger
Buffalo, WY 82834 89%835$63,395$328,700$222 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · younger residents
Pennellville, NY 13132 88%686$72,473$197,200$208 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 6 min longer commute
East New Market, MD 21631 88%864$73,864$306,700$198 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Clayton, GA 30525 88%831$65,150$274,200$258 more renters
Whitehall, MI 49461 88%240$83,363$265,300$218 larger · younger residents
Aitkin, MN 56431 88%193$67,828$295,400$213 larger
Boothbay, ME 04537 87%989$76,667$358,600$296 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller
State Road, NC 28676 87%804$60,833$242,600$191 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 87%823$71,383$341,400$248 pricier homes ($60K more) · 7 min longer commute
Mc Donald, TN 37353 87%788$74,252$253,300$199 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Milford, IA 51351 87%323$73,824$273,100$184 more renters
Spirit Lake, IA 51360 87%317$75,882$271,700$253 larger · younger residents · more renters
Glenwood, MN 56334 87%275$69,525$279,900$191 6 min longer commute
Wiscasset, ME 04578 86%985$81,063$327,400$234 pricier homes ($46K more) · 9 min longer commute
Lyndonville, VT 05851 86%861$68,488$227,200$177 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 8 min longer commute
Landisville, PA 17538 86%781$86,719$299,300$188 larger · 7 min longer commute
Doylestown, OH 44230 86%527$79,526$229,000$189 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · younger residents
Clear Lake, IA 50428 86%264$81,037$283,400$232 larger · more renters
La Grange, TX 78945 86%1,173$75,446$340,300$168 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · more renters

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.